Stream sync that keeps every viewer in the same moment
Use PubNub’s real-time data network to synchronize streams, coordinate dynamic ad insertion, and power interactive layers—without building global WebSocket infrastructure yourself.
Key Benefits
Enterprise-Ready & Compliant
Support security, privacy, and regional needs.
Benefit
SOC-audited controls, encryption options, and data governance features help you move quickly through InfoSec, privacy, and legal review for global streaming initiatives.
Predictable Cost & Scale
Plan usage and avoid surprise bills.
Benefit
Forecast spend based on active viewers and interaction volume. PubNub handles scaling for major events so you don’t over-provision or carry idle infrastructure between peaks.
Monetization & Engagement Lift
Turn sync into revenue and retention.
Benefit
Combine synchronized streams with targeted ad delivery, live polls, and social features to increase CPMs, extend session length, and reduce churn from spoiler-driven frustration.
Your stream is live. Your viewers aren’t.
Viewers hear the crowd roar on social before they see the play. Streams drift, watch parties desync, and complaints spike.
Meanwhile, generic or blocked ads quietly drain CPMs while engineering teams wrestle with custom WebSocket infrastructure.
Without a purpose-built stream sync layer, every major event becomes a high-risk, high-stress experiment.
Stream sync with less risk than DIY or point tools
Compare PubNub’s real-time data network to building in-house or relying solely on SSAI vendors.
PubNub vs. DIY WebSockets
PubNub cuts months of build time, removes global ops burden, and gives you predictable economics instead of ever-growing infrastructure and on-call costs.
PubNub vs. SSAI-Only Solutions
SSAI stitches ads; PubNub synchronizes the entire experience—streams, triggers, and interactivity—without locking you to a single video vendor.
CASE STUDY
How PubNub enables synchronized watch parties and dynamic ad moments
Streaming leaders use PubNub to align millions of viewers to the same game clock, coordinate ad breaks in real time, and layer in live chat, polls, and betting prompts—without overhauling their existing HLS/DASH and SSAI stack. The result: higher ad yield, longer session times, and fewer spoiler-driven cancellations, delivered with a fraction of the engineering effort compared to building and operating custom real-time infrastructure.
Get an ROI & architecture review for stream sync
Plan your next synchronized live event
Frequently Asked Questions
How does PubNub support stream sync for live sports and events?
PubNub runs a global real-time data network that sits alongside your existing video stack (encoders, CDN, players). You use PubNub channels and timetokens to broadcast timeline markers, ad triggers, and interaction events to all viewers with sub-100ms delivery. Clients align their local playback and interactive UI to these signals, keeping watch parties, second-screen apps, and betting prompts in lockstep with the live feed.
Will PubNub replace my SSAI or ad server for dynamic ad insertion?
No. PubNub complements your SSAI and ad server. Those systems still handle ad decisioning and stitching. PubNub coordinates the real-time signals around them—SCTE-35 markers, ad break triggers, viewer state, and interactive overlays—so you can improve fill rates, reduce blockers, and align ads and engagement features with the actual moment in the stream.
What is the typical implementation effort for stream sync?
Most teams start with a pilot: integrate PubNub SDKs into one player experience, publish timeline markers from your backend, and wire up a simple synced interaction (e.g., chat or poll). That’s often measured in days to a few weeks. More advanced use cases—like global watch parties plus DAI coordination—usually roll out over 4–8 weeks, including testing at live-event scale.
How does PubNub handle peak events and reliability risk?
PubNub operates a globally distributed edge network designed for high-concurrency, spiky workloads. Capacity planning, failover, and on-call operations are handled by PubNub, so your team focuses on product behavior, not infrastructure. This significantly reduces the risk of outages or degraded performance during tentpole events where brand and revenue exposure are highest.
What does the security and compliance review process look like?
PubNub provides documentation on security controls, data handling, and compliance posture to streamline InfoSec and legal review. Encryption in transit is standard, and optional end-to-end encryption is available for sensitive data. Our team can support vendor assessments, DPAs, and architectural discussions so you can move from evaluation to approved vendor status faster.
How do we start without committing the entire platform on day one?
Most customers follow a phased approach: 1) Pilot a single use case (e.g., synced chat or watch party for one property), 2) Expand to additional channels and features once value is proven, then 3) Standardize PubNub as the shared real-time layer across teams. This de-risks the decision while still giving you a clear path to platform-wide benefits.
